Toy airplane



April 9, 1929. SPRAGUE 1,708,335

TOY AIRPLANE Filed June 2, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 9, 9- A. E. SPRAGUE ,335

TOY AIRPLANE Filed June 2, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 9, 1929.

ARTHUR E. SPRAGUE, OF HORNELL, NEW YORK.

TOY AIRPLANE.

Application filed June 2,

This invention relates to a childs toy airplane and he main object is to provide a top modeled in miniature to represent an airplane of the monoplane type wh ch may be pushed along the floor by a child, this action causing the wings of the toy to flap up and down.

Another object is to provide a toy of the above named character which shall be neat in appearance and simple and sturdy in construction. 7

lVith these and other objects in view the invention resides in the novel construction and arrangement of the several parts as hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In the drawings: a

Figure 1 is a side view of my invention partly broken awav.

Figure 2 is a front view thereof also partly broken away.

Figure is a: plan view partly broken away.

Figure 4 is an enlarged section along the line 14 in Figure 2; and

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail view of one of the connecting links between the wings and the cross head.

In carrying out the invention I provide a main body portion denoted generally by the numeral 1 and simulating the fuselage of an airplane. The body 1 comprises. the spaced pairs of top rails 2 and lower rails 3 which are secured at one end upon either side of the center post 4: and at the other end are'secured together and mounted between the side pieces 5 joining the upper and lower portions 6 and 7 respectively of the tail post 8. Short upper and lower rails 9 extend forwardly from the center post 4% and are provided at their'ends with the nose plate 10 backed by brace pieces 11. The center post 4 extends below the body 1 and brackets 12 are countersunk in and secured to the end thereof by bolts 13. The axle 14 is rotatably mounted in the depending ends 15 of the brackets 12 and the wheels 16 are mounted upon the ends of the said axle, being retained in place thereon by nuts 17 The post 4 also extends upwardly beyond the body 1 as shown and a flat rec tangular and horizontally disposed center piece 18 is provided with an aperture 19 which is adapted to fit over the said post the said center piece 18being secured in place by a bracket 20 secured to the post and to the center piece. Small conven- 1928. Serial No. 282,358.

are screwed in the inner ends of the wing sections 23 which are flat, elongated and curved at their outer ends as shown. The

screw eyes 21 and 22 are spaced apart in such manner that when the wing sections 23 are placed in position at the sides of the center piece 18 the said screw eyes will lit side by side as shown in Figure 3. A U-shaped wire hinge pin 24: has its ends 25 passed through the eyes 21 and 22 and it may thus be understood that the wing sections 23 are dctachably and hingedly connected to the center piece 18 and are free to move up or down as will be more fully set forth hereinafter.

A crosshead 26 is slidably mounted upon the center post 4: and is preferably formed of the spaced sides 27, the ends 28 and the spaced retaining pieces 29 adapted to embrace the said post 4 as shown in Figure 4-. Crank rods 30 have their upper ends pivotally connected at 31 to the ends 28 of the crosshead 26 and have their lower ends journaled upon crank pins 32 set eccentrically on the wheel 16.

Cross pieces 33 are secured to the underside of the wing sections 23 are spaced out wardly from the inner ends thereof, and are provided with depending screw eyes 34. lVire links 35 are provided having the upper cross pieces 36 and the converging legs 37, and having eyes 38 formed in their lower ends. In use the links are mounted as shown with the cross pieces 36 passed throughthe screw eyes 34 in the cross pieces 33 and the legs 37 are pivotally connected to the sides 27 of the crosshead 26 near its ends by means of screws 39 through the eyes 38. From the foregoing it will be understood that the rotation of the wheels 16 will cause the wing sections 23 to move or flap up and down by means of the crank rods 30, the crosshead 26 and the connecting links 35, the wing sections being shown in various positions in full and broken lines in Figure 2.

The lower end 7 of the tail post 8 is provided with the spaced tail skids d0, on the ends of the horizontal cross bar 41, and which are angularly disposed relative to the said lower end 7 so that when the toy is at rest the said tail skids 40 will rest fiat upon the floor.

A tail assembly comprising the horizontal fiat ta11-w1ng 4:2 with curved ends as shown and the medially positioned vertical fin or rudder 4:3, is secured upon theextended upperend 6 of the tail post 8. A short post 44 is passed between the side pieces 5 of the tail post 8 and is secured thereto by a bolt 45 and has its forward end secured between the lower rails 3"1by a bolt 4-6 in such manner that it Will extend upwardly and rearwardly from the body as shown. A connecting element 17, U-shapedin cross section, is secured upon the rearwardly disposed end of the post l4; by a bolt L8 and an elongated handle 49 may be releasably secured in the said connecting element ll by a bolt 50. By means of this handle a.

' child may push the toy along the floor causing the Wheels to revolve which in turn, through the elements hereinbefore recited will cause the wing sections to flap up and down. This action is to simulate the action of the wings inthe proposed type of vertically rising airplane and if desired a suitable propeller (not shown) may be mounted upon the noseplate of the body portion.

7 The actions of the crankrods 30 and the crosshead 26 as the toy operatesadds much to the amusement afforded the children by the toy as will be understood.

The various elements maybe constructed of any desired material being preferably formed of metal to give strength to the toy and it is obvious that the toy can also be made in large or small sizes.

WIh-ile I have herein set forth a preferred embodiment of my invention, it is understood that I may vary from the same in minor details, within the scope of theappended claim.

I claim: 7

In. a toy of the characterdescribed, a body portion having a forwardly mounted vertical membeiy wheels upon the same, and a detachable handle to roll the toy along a floor or other surface, a tail wing upon, the

rearof the body portion, a vertical rudder fixed at a medial point upon the tail Wing, a tail skid upon the rear of the body, a front wing assembly comprising side sections hingedly mounted upon the vertical member, a crosshead slidably mounted upon the vertical member, crank rods connecting the wheels; and the crosshead and links connecting the crosshead and the Wing sections whereby the latter will be iven a flapping up and down motion as the toy is rolled along the floor. V r i In testimony whereof I afiix mysignature.-

, ARTHURE. SPRAGUE. 

